Politics
UK sanctions on West Bank settlements draw Israeli retaliation
September 9, 2026 at 05:57 AM
Coverage
44 reports · 24 in Arabic, 20 in English · over 154 hours
The UK has imposed sanctions on illegal West Bank settlements, prompting Israel to announce countermeasures including closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem.
- Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced a ban on imports from illegal West Bank settlements, accusing the Israeli government of turning a blind eye to "ethnic cleansing" by settler terrorists.
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced countermeasures: closing the British consulate in Jerusalem, banning 11 UK MPs including Jeremy Corbyn, and ending UK training of Palestinian forces.
- The UK, France, Canada and nine other countries issued a joint statement committing to national or European restrictions on trade with West Bank settlements.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States would not join the coordinated sanctions.
Latest developments
- Sep 9 — The UK sanctions package also targets companies that fund or facilitate settlement projects in construction, infrastructure, financing and arms sales licenses.
- Sep 9 — The sanctions coincide with Israel's push to expand the E1 settlement area east of Jerusalem.
- Sep 9 — US Ambassador Mike Huckabee threatened retaliation before the White House distanced itself, while former Israeli Attorney General Michael Ben-Yair voiced support.
- Sep 9 — Australia is preparing its own targeted sanctions over settler violence but will not join the blanket trade ban.
- Sep 9 — Israel will also exclude Britain from the US-led Gaza ceasefire mission, and President Isaac Herzog called the UK ban a grave miscalculation.
- Sep 9 — Burnham briefed Trump and Gulf allies, polling shows Britons back the ban by more than two to one, and the UK may join South Africa at the ICJ over Gaza aid.





























